Dr. John B. Weaver, Director of the Burke Library, a division of the Columbia University Libraries, at Union Theological Seminary, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA), a professional association of more than 1,000 individual, institutional, and affiliate members providing programs, products, and services in support of theological and religious studies libraries and librarians.

Weaver will serve a three-year term, renewable in 2013. "I’m honored to serve on the Board of Directors," said Weaver, "and to help advance ATLA and the schools it serves in support of new models of scholarly communication, open-access initiatives, and emergent forms of theological education."

Columbia's Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian Jim Neal said "it is outstanding that Dr. Weaver will be providing leadership for the nation's leading theology library association through service on the ATLA Board."

Weaver is Professor of Theological Librarianship at Union Theological Seminary, and has written and taught extensively on religious literature and theological practices, including the act of reading and the use of technology in scholarship and ministry. His current research focuses on the hermeneutics of the bible in digital texts and contexts.

Established in 1946, ATLA's ecumenical membership represents many religious traditions and denominations. The mission of the American Theological Library Association is to foster the study of theology and religion by enhancing the development of theological and religious libraries and librarianship.

The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary is world renowned, containing rich collections for theological study and research with holdings of over 700,000 items including unique and special materials. Throughout its long history, the Burke Library has maintained its commitment to the needs of both teaching and research, serving the faculty, students, and staff of Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University, as well as a wide spectrum of national and international scholars and researchers. For more information, please visit: /content/libraryweb/indiv/burke.html

Columbia University Libraries/Information Services is one of the top five academic research library systems in North America. The collections include over 10 million volumes, over 100,000 journals and serials, as well as extensive electronic resources, manuscripts, rare books, microforms, maps, graphic and audio-visual materials. The services and collections are organized into 22 libraries and various academic technology centers. The Libraries employs more than 550 professional and support staff. The website of the Libraries is the gateway to its services and resources: library.columbia.edu.